What's On

Permaculture Sydney North creates empowered, resilient and sustainable communities by teaching people skills in permaculture and self sufficiency. We run a range of practical, hand-on workshops and courses, and we bring in guest speakers on a range of topics close to our hearts. Our education is fun and a great way to connect with a like-minded community. Many events are free for members, and our paid courses are affordably priced.

Dates

November 12, 19, 26 - 2016 and February 4, 11, 18, 25 - 2017.

Course fee includes excursions, garden inspections, and a copy of the textbook:

“Introduction to Permaculture” by Bill Mollison.

Locations

Each session will be held at a permaculture garden and details will be forwarded after enrolment.

What you will learn

The course will concentrate on Permaculture in a home garden. During the course of the 7 weeks, you will learn

· how to apply the Permaculture principles to your home garden design which can be a suburban backyard, balcony, rooftop, courtyard, planter boxes in a sunny part of your house or apartment, or pots on a window ledge.

· how to incorporate the secrets of secrets of herb spirals, swales, and keyhole gardens into your garden plan

· how to analyse and document the features, that affect your choices and how to overcome the challenges that each garden brings. By the end of the course you will have learned how to design a permaculture garden and choose the best plants and animals that will suit your situation.

However, most importantly, you will learn

· how to test and nurture your soil, that magical medium that recycles so much “waste” and offers us so much in return.

This course is offered to PSN members only. The presenters are offering their time as a gift to PSN members. You can join Permaculture Sydney North on our website http://permaculturenorth.org.au/

Compete (in the friendliest way possible) against really experienced Permies and Newbie Permies to see who really knows more about Permaculture.

Book & DVD sale:

One night only - 50% discount for all selected Permaculture books & DVDs for PSN members. What a great opportunity to buy a Xmas present for a like-minded friend or family member - or even a little Xmas treat for yourself!

But wait, there's more!

There's ourChristmas Guessing competition! The question that you will have to answer to win is ... Who was the co-founder of permaculture who worked with David Holmgren?

Tickets are $1 each or 3 tickets for $2 and the prize is What garden pest or disease is that?, a wonderfully useful book by Judy McMaugh on organic and chemical solutions for every garden problem.

Election of new Management Committee:

Please complete a Nomination Form if you would like to nominatesomeone, or be nominated, for a position on the PSN Management Committee. Please complete a Proxy Form if you can't attend the AGM but want to vote.

Summer means hot days and big thirst. If you or your family like fizzy drinks, this workshop is about making natural, healthy, fermented fruit and milk drinks.

Take this opportunity to acquire fermenting skills to increase beneficial gut flora (that's bacteria and fungi) boosting body's immune system and relieving symptoms of some medical conditions.

Cultured drinks use fungal/bacterial starters (SCOBY) to process sugars (such as lactose, fructose etc) in milk, sweetened tea and juices. Milk and water kefir as well as kombucha or jun are the most popular drinks you can make this way.

You will have an opportunity to try several fermented drinks and learn how to set up a jar of kombucha or jun for first and second fermentation (cultures will be available on the day), also watch how to prepare beet kvass and milk kefir.

This workshop will be conducted by a long-time fermenter, Margaret Mossakowska, who first tried sour milk and beet kvass nearly half a century ago.

What to bring:

a notebook to make notes

a small glass (a shot glass) for tasting drinks

Register by clicking on the "Register" button. If you have problems with registering, please email livingskills@permaculturenorth.org.au